Circuit-interrupter.



No. 768,616. I 1 PATENTED AUG. 30, 1904. G. P. MGDNNBLL.

CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1o, 1902. N0 MODEL 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 768,616.l

G'. YP. MODONNBLL'.

PATENTBD AUG. 30,1904.

CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER..

H0 MODEL:

APPLIGATIONl PILBD MAY 1o, v1902.

UNITED STATES GEORGE l. HCDONNELL, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI'. ASSIGNOR OF FORTY- Patented August 30, 1904- PATENTl OFFICE.,

NINE PER CENT. TO OSCAR. E. ILOUH MAN AND RICHARD F. SPENCER,

OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

CIRCUIT-INTERRUPTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 768,616, dated August 30, 1904,

Application Bled May 10, 1902. Serial No. 106,789. No model.)

To rr/N 11:71.0711, Ii/ 717/14/ coincer/1,:

Be it known that 1, GEORGE P. MC'DQNNELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful lmp rovement in Circuit-I nter ru pters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same` reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a. front elevational view of a motor whose armature is provided with my improved circuit-interrupter disk. Fig. 2 is a side elevational vieu1 of the saine. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the interrupter-disk. Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the same. Fig. 5 is an elevational view showing the opposite side of the disk from that'shown in Fig. l. Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic View showing my improved disk in a bell-ringing circuit.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in circuit-interrupters, the same being designed particularly for use in a bellringing circuit.

IThe object of my invention is to provide an interrupter-disk for making and breaking an electric circuit at intervals, the circuit whenmade energizing a magnet so as to attract au armature which carries a bell-hammer. The motor which drives the circuit-interrupter is controlled by a. switch or push-button, so that when the same is operated to complete the circuit the motor is driven to interrupt the bell-circuit.

With these objects in View my invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts, all as will hereinafter be described and afterward pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, 1 indicates a motor Whose armature-shaft carries an interrupter-disk 2. This interrupter-disk is in the form of a iiat metal plate With metallic cleats 3 secured to its opposite faces, between which cleats and Hush therewith are insulation-blocks 4. There are preferably an unequal number of cleats on opposite sides of the disk, so that by changing the disk on the armature-shaft the number of interruptions per minute can be changed. Secured in a suitable manner to the frame of the motor, but insulated therefrom, is a brush 5, which bears against the inner side face of the disk and completes the bell-circuit by contacting with one of the cleats 3 thereof. In the drawings I have shown the interruptordisk as having on one side one of such metallic cleats and on the opposite side three of such metallic cleats.

ln Fig. 6 1 have shown a system of Wiring in which my improved interrupter is used in a bell-circuit, the motor being energized upon the manipulation of a push-button. In this figure, 6 and 7 are the main line-wires. From 6 leads a wire 8 to push-button 9, which if closed will direct the current through the motor and wire 10 back to the return-Wire 7. At the same time part of the current will pass through Wire 11, bell -magnet 12, wire 13, through a resistance 14; into the brush 5. When said brush is resting upon one of the metallic cleats of the interrupter-disk, the circuit will be completed through the bellmagnet, through the armature-shaft, frame of the motor, binding-post 15 on said frame, and Wire 16 to the return-wire 7.

From the, above it will be seen that Whenever the push-button or switch 9 is closed the motor is started and the circuit through the bell-magnet is interrupted by the disk, the intermittent energization of the bell-magnet attracting the bellcarrying armature and ringing the bell. A spring is provided to retract the armature upon the breaking of the circuit, as is well understood.

It will be seen from the above that in dwellings the system shown in Fig. 6 is preferable because the motor is only running during the time that the bell is ringing. While I have shown a single switch 9 'in the circuit, it is obvious that any number of switches can be introduced and any number of bells can be controlled by said switches. By providing an unequal number of contact-faces the disk 2 may be reversed to change the rapidity of the strokes depending upon the speed of the motor. lt will he understood that the motor starting 'from a position of rest will require hlit a little time to reach full speed.

l am aware that many minor changes in the 5 construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of' my device can be made 'and substituted for those herein shown and described without in the least departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

By the use of my improved circuit-interrupter it will be seen that electric call-bells can be installed in residences, hotels, and the like by utilizing the ordinary lighting or power circuit. ln this manner all batteries are dispensed with, and consequently no attention is required to keep up the strength of the batteries. Furthermore,the inconvenience of renewing and disconnecting and connecting wires from batteries, usually located in inaccessible places in dwellings, is done away with. Furthermore, by the utilization of the lighting or power circuit a constant electromotive force is obtainable at all times, and this is Very essential where the circuit is used as a lire-alarm circuit. WVhere batteries are employed, the diminishing strength renders them unreliable, and in some cases where they are not frequently renewed the batteries become exhausted and refuse to generate sufficient current to operate the translating devices when such operation is most important.

In a companion application filed by me August 5, 1903, Serial No. 168,342, l have shown and described a system where the motor is constantly running, the switches being located in the interrupted circuit to energize the bellmagnets when such circuits are completed. The system in the present application is designed particularly T'or residences, and in this system the motor is stationary, except when the circuit therethrough is completed by the switch and coincidently the -bell-magnet is E. Bloehman and Richard F. Spencer,

Jersey,

Office.

[SEAL] energized.

The constantly-running motor in my companion application is designed for use in hotels and the like where there are a great number of bells and there would be no economy in cutting out the current from the mo tor when all of the switches were open.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In acircuit-interrupter, the combination with a rotatable shaft, of a reversible disk mounted thereon, and an unequal number of contact-faces on thel opposite sides of said disk; substantially as described.

2. In a circuit-interrupter, the combination with a rotatable shaft, of a reversible disk mounted thereon, an unequal number of radially-disposed contact-faces on the opposite sides of said disk, and insulation material between said contact-faces; substantially as described.

3. The combination with the armature-shaft of a motor, of a reversible interrupter-disk mounted thereon and provided with contact- Jfaces, said motor and disk being normally in a position of rest, a motor-circuit, a brush cooperating with said contact-faces for completing the interrupted circuit, a bell-magnet in the interrupted circuit, a switch in the motor-circuit for openingand closing the same and coincidently intermittently energizing the bell-magnet in the circuit which is intel'- rupted by the interrupter-disk; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ax my signature, in the presence of two witnesses, this 6th day of May, 1902.

GEORGE P. MGDONNELL.

Witnesses:

F. R. GoRNwALL, GEORGE BAKEWELL.

It is hereby certified that Letters Patent No. 768,616, granted August 80, 1904 upon the applica-tion of George B. McDonnellpof St. Louis,

Missouri, for an improvement in Circuit Interrupters, was erroneously issued to said McDonnell and Oscar as joint owners of said invention; whereas the patent should have been granted to American. Electric Company. a corporation of New it being sole owner of the entire interest as shown by the assignments of record in the Patent Oce; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Signed and sealed this 27th day of September, A. D., 1904.

F. I. ALLEN,

Commissioner of Patents.

tor. lt will he understood that the motor starting 'from a position of rest will require hlit a little time to reach full speed.

l am aware that many minor changes in the 5 construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of' my device can be made 'and substituted for those herein shown and described without in the least departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

By the use of my improved circuit-interrupter it will be seen that electric call-bells can be installed in residences, hotels, and the like by utilizing the ordinary lighting or power circuit. ln this manner all batteries are dispensed with, and consequently no attention is required to keep up the strength of the batteries. Furthermore,the inconvenience of renewing and disconnecting and connecting wires from batteries, usually located in inaccessible places in dwellings, is done away with. Furthermore, by the utilization of the lighting or power circuit a constant electromotive force is obtainable at all times, and this is Very essential where the circuit is used as a lire-alarm circuit. WVhere batteries are employed, the diminishing strength renders them unreliable, and in some cases where they are not frequently renewed the batteries become exhausted and refuse to generate sufficient current to operate the translating devices when such operation is most important.

In a companion application filed by me August 5, 1903, Serial No. 168,342, l have shown and described a system where the motor is constantly running, the switches being located in the interrupted circuit to energize the bellmagnets when such circuits are completed. The system in the present application is designed particularly T'or residences, and in this system the motor is stationary, except when the circuit therethrough is completed by the switch and coincidently the -bell-magnet is E. Bloehman and Richard F. Spencer,

Jersey,

Office.

[SEAL] energized.

The constantly-running motor in my companion application is designed for use in hotels and the like where there are a great number of bells and there would be no economy in cutting out the current from the mo tor when all of the switches were open.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In acircuit-interrupter, the combination with a rotatable shaft, of a reversible disk mounted thereon, and an unequal number of contact-faces on thel opposite sides of said disk; substantially as described.

2. In a circuit-interrupter, the combination with a rotatable shaft, of a reversible disk mounted thereon, an unequal number of radially-disposed contact-faces on the opposite sides of said disk, and insulation material between said contact-faces; substantially as described.

3. The combination with the armature-shaft of a motor, of a reversible interrupter-disk mounted thereon and provided with contact- Jfaces, said motor and disk being normally in a position of rest, a motor-circuit, a brush cooperating with said contact-faces for completing the interrupted circuit, a bell-magnet in the interrupted circuit, a switch in the motor-circuit for openingand closing the same and coincidently intermittently energizing the bell-magnet in the circuit which is intel'- rupted by the interrupter-disk; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ax my signature, in the presence of two witnesses, this 6th day of May, 1902.

GEORGE P. MGDONNELL.

Witnesses:

F. R. GoRNwALL, GEORGE BAKEWELL.

It is hereby certified that Letters Patent No. 768,616, granted August 80, 1904 upon the applica-tion of George B. McDonnellpof St. Louis,

Missouri, for an improvement in Circuit Interrupters, was erroneously issued to said McDonnell and Oscar as joint owners of said invention; whereas the patent should have been granted to American. Electric Company. a corporation of New it being sole owner of the entire interest as shown by the assignments of record in the Patent Oce; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Signed and sealed this 27th day of September, A. D., 1904.

F. I. ALLEN,

Commissioner of Patents.

Correction in Letters Patent No. 768,616.

It is hereby certified that Letterel Patent No. 768,616, granted August 30, 1904 upon the application of George B. McDonnell, of' St. Louis, Missouri, for an improvement in Circuit Interrupters, was erroneously issued to said McDonnell and Oscar E. Bloehman and Richard F. Spencer, :is joint owners of said invention; whereas. the patent should have been granted to Anwrvcan Electric Company. a corporation of New Jersey, it being sole owner of the entire interest as shown by the assignments of record in the Patent Office; and that the said Lettere Patent should he read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Signed and sealed this 27th day of September, A. D., 1904.

[SEAL] F. I. ALLEN,

Commissioner of Patents. 

